Shopping spree

Summerside's COVID-19 task force announces virtual mall for local businesses

Summerside residents will soon be able to get their local shopping done at a virtual mall.

"(It's) a new, shared web portal highlighting all the great businesses in Summerside that are providing products and services to our residents," said Coun. Brian McFeely.

The initiative is one of two being put together by the city's COVID-19 task force, which was recently established by McFeely and the city's economic development department to help mitigate the pandemic's economic impact on Summerside's local businesses.

"Small business is a significant driver of the economy in our community," McFeely said. "(And) some of our small businesses are struggling big time."

McFeely shared the task force's update during city council's committee meeting on May 5, held via video conference.

He said the task force has had no shortage of ideas, and the virtual mall was, in part, inspired by an Ottawa initiative called Together Apart.

Mike Thususka, the city's director of economic development, said a template for the website has already been completed and is just awaiting the committee's approval.

"We hope to launch it in the next four to five days," he said on May 5.

"Great work by a great bunch of people."

The website will be resurrecting the Forward Summerside brand as it already has some recognition within the community. It'll feature information on participating businesses and direct shoppers to making purchases from them, McFeely said.

"It's really about encouraging people to shop locally," he said, "and maybe get a few less UPS trucks around town because there's a pile of them."

McFeely commended the task force's partners organizations, the Greater Summerside Chamber of Commerce and the Downtown Summerside Corporation, for their heavy involvement and leadership.

The other initiative announced was to provide online seminars for business owners to help them navigate the pandemic's ongoing impact.

The task force will be focusing on these two initiatives at first, but there may be more to come, McFeely said.

"We want whatever we do to be sustainable in the long run."